Coin-controlled apparatus.



E. A. COPELAND.

COIN CONTROLLED-APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FlLED JUNE-I26. 191s.

Patented Mar.19,1918.

3 8 4 Zia-Mum UNI AS EUGENE A. COPELAND, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 HOBBS MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

COIN-CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EUGENE A. COPELAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vorcester, in the county of \Vorcester and -Gonnnonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Coin-Controlled Apparatus, of which the following is a specification accompanied by drawings forming a part of the same.

My present invention relates to that class of coin controlled apparatus in which certain portions of the mechanism are energized by an electric current to perform their respective functions, and the object of my invention is to provide means for rendering the machine inoperative, in case the electrical energy for the performance of such functions is lacking. I accomplish this result by closing the apparatus to the inser tion of a coin whenever the electric current is absent.

The mechanism embodying my present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described, the novel features of my invention being pointed out in the annexed claims.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view of a coin chute by which a coin is conducted to the operating mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a front View, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the broken line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the different figures.

In the drawings 1 denotes a face plate or escutcheon attached to the framework 2 of the machine. The face of the escutcheon is concave, as shown at 3, and in the center of the concave portion is a narrow slot 4: adapted to receive a'coin of the denomination designed to be used in the machine. The slot 4 communicates with a chute or conduit 5 through which the coin when entered at the slot 4, is conducted to the operating parts of the mechanism, which may be of any usual form of construction employed in coin controlled apparatus. Sliding in horizontal ways 6 in the escutcheon 1 is a plate 7 having a slot 8 corresponding in size to the slot 4, but normally out of alinement therewith, as represented in 3. The plate 7 carries a pin 9 engaged by the bifurcated end 10 of the long arm 11 of a bell crank lever rocking upon a stud 12 held in the framework of the machine. The short arm 13 of the bell crank lever pivotally connected with the lower end of the core 14: of a solenoid 15.

Whenever the solenoid is energized by an electrical current, the core 14: is lifted to rock the bell crank on its pivot 12 to move the plate 7 to the right, in Figs. 2 and 3, thereby bringing the slot 8 in the plate 7 into alinement with the slot- 4 in the escutcheon or face plate 1 and permitting the eutrance of a coin to the chute 5. By coupling the electric circuit which energizes the solenoid 15 with the cincuit by which the operative mechanism of the apparatus is energized, the plate 7, or shutter, serves as an indicator "to show when the electric current requisite for operating the apparatus is present. As soon as the electric current is absent, the solenoid ceases to be energized, the core 14 falls by gravity and swings the long arm 11 of the bell crank toward the left, Fig. 2, withdrawing the plate into the position therein shown, closing the slot l and preventing the entrance of a coin.

The control of the electric circuit may be effected in any of the known methods. In the present instance, the electric current is brought from its source to the binding posts 16, 16. The solenoid 15 is brought into the circuit by wires 17 17, while wires 18, 18 lead to a motor, not shown, by which the operative parts of the machine are actuated. At one of the wires 18, the circuit is normally broken at the blades 19, 19, but may be completed by means of the push switch 20, which is normally held out of contact with the blades 19, 19, by a spiral spring 21, Fig. 1. The solenoid 15 is therefore permanently in the circuit, and while it is energized the slot 8 in the plate 7 is held in alinement with the slot 4 in the escutcheon or face plate 1. By pushing the switch 20 between the blades 19, 19, the circuit which includes the motor is closed.

I claim,

1. In an apparatus of the class described, an electric circuit, a solenoidforming part of said circuit, a coin chute and a gate for closing said chute operatively connected with said solenoid by which said gate is normally held open.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, an electric circuit, a solenoid forming part of said circuit, a coin chute, a gate closing said chute by gravity, said gate being 0pcratively connected with said solenoid by which the gate is normally held open.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, an electric circuit, a solenoid forming part of said circuit by which said solenoid is permanently energized, a coin chute, a gate arranged to close said chute, said gate being operatircly connected with said solenoid to hold the gate normally open, and a switch connection between said clrcuit and the operative parts of the apparatus.

Dated this 23rd day of June, 1916.

EUGENE A. COPELAND.

Witnesses:

N ELLIE WHALEN, PENELOPE CoMBERnAcH. 

